Food sticks to granite & it's hard to clean - time to reseal?

16 years ago

My granite counter is about 6 months old. I've noticed it's hard to get clean. Food particles stick a lot. For example, if I make cookies and put them on the counter when hot, the little greasy crumbs stick. In some cases, I have to work pretty darn hard to get it clean (you can't see the food residue at all, but you can feel it when running the cloth over it). However I'm not having the staining problems some people on this forum have mentioned when they are overdue for a sealing job.

Do you think I really need to reseal? Or is this just the nature of granite and I'm not used to it because nothing ever used to stick to my cheap formica (and it was so easy to just wipe clean)?

Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated.

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Comments (8)

krissie55
16 years ago
It is best to use cookie racks to cool cookies. Why would you even want to put hot cookies directly on a counter top?

I clean granite counter top with 50/50 alcohol/water, and off and on will clean with a granite polish. I certainly do not want either to be absorbed into cookies or other food.

To remove cookie stuck crumbs from the granite, wet counter with water and let soak, then wipe clean.

Some granites are more porous than others. I found the light colored granites to stain from oil and etch from lemon juice, etc. Usually the darker the granite the less porous it is.
lascatx
16 years ago
Cookies or other baked good can get soggy bottoms sitting on stone instead of cooling on a wire rack - and that means more sticking. I found the same issue with silicone mats and some things. Definitely use wire racks to cool baked goods.

If you are using your counters that heavily and cleaning them more heavily -- especially using chemicals, it wouldn't hurt to clean them well and then apply some more sealer. If it is excess, it will wipe off and you are only out a few minutes.
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azstoneconsulting
16 years ago
phish:

Do you know what kind and brand of sealer was applied?

Also - what is the stone that you have?

Can you post a close up of the stone?

I prefer using hot water and maybe a drop of "Joy" dish soap
but NOT any sovents like Alchohol or Acetone - those can
have a negative effect on the sealer - depending on the
sealer that was used - I know that Acetone WILL deteriorate
some silicone based sealers, so DO NOT use Acetone to clean
your stone... Alchohol may have the same effect...

kevin

Kevin M. Padden MIA SFA
Fabricator, Trainer & Consultant to the Natural Stone Industry
www.azschoolofrock.com
cburch
16 years ago
Sorry to hijack the thread, but my granite fabricator told me also to use a little dish washing detergent to clean my stone, but I was told here by someone else not to because it leaves a soap scum film and will dull the finish. Honestly, it's the best thing I've found to cut the grease and leave everything sparkling after wiping down with a micofiber towel. I don't have a clue as to what type of sealer was used. I have Verde Butterfly and other than wiping it down and the occasional "stuck" stuff, it's really easy to clean and take care of.
gneegirl
16 years ago
cburch, I'll follow suit and hijack too. From the beginning, my fabricator told me to use dish detergent and warm water to clean, with a granite cleaner applied every week or so. They also told me not to use microfiber clothes too. I read the same thing you did about his on the Forum. So far the soapy water has been great. The problem - I need more muscle to clean the cooktop with Cerababrite!!

RE the posters' question, try the soapy water - not a lot of soap. Let it sit for a moment if it is "sticky". You may also want to contact your fabricator as well.
cburch
16 years ago
gneegirl - I wonder why no microfiber ... does it take the sealant off? I do have the bottle of sealer at home, which was from either HD or Lowe's ... what the fabricator told me to buy (or spend another $50.00 with them to get what they carry and they told me the stuff at HD was about the same). I use a little dab of soap - and usually two rags, one washing, one for rinsing and then the mircofiber.

Christy
oruboris
16 years ago
I'd like to hear the rationale behind 'no micro-fiber', too: sounds like a myth in the making, to me.
sherilynn
16 years ago
Not to hijack either, but I've used microfiber cloths and regular 'ol Ajax Liquid Dish Soap used to make hot, soapy water to clean my granite. Nary a problem...ever. My granite is just as shiny as it was the day it was installed almost three years ago.

Now for the food sticking problem. Granite is cool, typically, and when any warm food drips or hits it, it starts to cool fast and will stick. I especially notice more things 'stuck' when we have company and I use the island as a buffet.

I use a plastic scraper that I use for my pizza stone to clean up stuck food on the counter. I think I got it from Pampered Chef.

I also keep a single blade razor handy just in case I need a sharper edge than the plastic scraper. It just depends on what I'm cleaning. Neither the razor blade or the plastic scraper hurts or scratches my granite.

Awhile ago, I was using Crazy Glue and literally got it everywhere on my granite counter. I was in shock. I went ahead and let it dry then used the razor blade to get if off the granite. It came off without a problem and no evidence that it ever happened appeared.

As a matter of fact, the fabricator suggested using the razor blade and I pulled out the plastic scraper because I did not DH or my kiddos using the blade in an unsafe manner or irresponsible manner to clean off the granite.

Food sticks to granite & it's hard to clean - time to reseal?

Comments (8)

krissie55

lascatx

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